Contraception Reviews
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Orlistat reviews

Orlistat is a capsule that is taken just before or within an hour of each meal. It works by stopping the body from absorbing fat. Any fat you eat is passed out in your bowels and can make your poo more oily, loose and you need to go more often! You need to use orlistat alongside reducing calories and increasing exercise. And bear in mind that the side effects will be worse if you eat more fatty foods!

Active ingredient

Orlistat

Product type

Capsule

How is it used

Taken orally

Frequency

Three times daily with meals

Dosage

120mg

Do I need prescription?

yes

Orlistat benefits

Some of the potential benefits of this medication and associated weight loss

Weight loss

Increased energy

Lower blood pressure

Improved cholesterol levels

Better mobility

Less joint pain

Improved PCOS symptoms

Improved confidence

Better mood/mental wellbeing

Improved fertility

Orlistat possible side effects

Some of the possible side effects associated with this medication

Nausea

Vomiting

Constipation

Diarrhoea

Bloating

Burping

Indigestion

Headache

Gallstones

Pancreatitis

Kidney problems

Muscle loss

Body aches

Weight gain after stopping

Orlistat alternatives

Medications that work in similar ways or brands that have the same active ingredient

Orlistat FAQs

Orlistat works by stopping the breakdown of fat in your digestive system. This means your body can't absorb fat eaten in food.
Orlistat can be used by people with a BMI over 30 or over 28 if you have a health condition related to weight such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Orlistat can be started by your GP. To continue with Orlistat, you have to lose 5% of your body fat in the first 3 months of using it.
Orlistat is available to buy for under £100 for a three month supply. A two week supply costs less than £20.
In clinical trials, people using Orlistat lost around 5-10% of their body weight over one year.
This depends on the individual. To lose weight on Orlistat you will also need to make healthy dietary changes and increase your exercise levels.
As you lose wieght using Orlistat, you can lose belly fat. But it is important to also increase exercise and strength training to help lose belly fat and develop strong abdominal muscles.
How you feel on Orlistat is individual. Some people feel worse due to side effects, whereas other people feel much better due to the benefits of weight loss for their overall health or medical conditions.
You can just stop taking Orlistat. In fact, you are advised to not take Orlistat if you skip a meal or if you have a meal that does not contain any fat.
If you stop taking Orlistat and have not made any changes to your overall diet and exercise, then you may regain weight.
In clinical trials, after stopping Orlistat, people regained around two thirds of the weight lost if they did not also continue a change in lifestyle.
You are expected to lose around 5% of your body weight in the first three months of using Orlistat. However, this depends on how well you stick to dietary changes and increasing exercise.
Orlistat can make it difficult for your body to absorb certain vitamins that need fat to help them be taken up in the digestive system. This may cause deficiencies in vitamins A, D, E and K so you might want to take a multivitamin which contain these.
Orlistat side effects are usually related to your digestive tract. If you develop severe diarrhoea you are at risk of becoming dehydrated. Very rarely, Orlistat can affect your liver.
Orlistat is generally considered safe to use long term.
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